 In the June 2011 issue of
River Hills Traveler
Our annual Float Trip Edition
On the cover & Page 1
Cover Image"Black River fun" by Ron Kruger
Ron's shot of a family enjoying a raft trip on the crystal-clear Black River sums up what summer floating in the Ozarks is all about.
We have elk! — Jo Schaper
Thirty-four eastern Kentucky elk (19 female, some of which are pregnant and 15 male yearling “spike bulls”) are now in residence on Peck Ranch Conservation Area in rural Carter County. The elk arrived early on the morning of May 5, after having spent the night being driven from eastern Kentucky, across the swollen Mississippi River.
The elk were initially scheduled to arrive on April 30, but an inconclusive health test on one animal delayed their transport. This animal was retested, declared healthy, and the herd came here to their new Missouri home. Video of the unloading is available at www.MissouriConservation.org.
Our package of special elk coverage includes two additional pieces from Jo Schaper
• Local reaction ranges from elation to anger
• Arkansas elk: Thirty years of good and bad Plus a Traveler Web Extra: Memo to elk: Big brother at MDC is watchingRead this story online
Eleven Point: cold, clear, serene —Barbara Gibbs Ostmann
Last year my sister and I branched out from our usual Current and Jacks Fork float and headed to the Eleven Point, of which we had long heard rave reviews. We were not disappointed.
The rest of the paper
Almost perfect weekend on the Current...great fishing, eating, sweet revenge on rowdies— Bill Cooper
Thoughts of getting away for a weekend to camp, fish and relax on the Current River dominated the conversation between working buddy Dan Bowens and me. We both longed for a little warm sunshine on our backs and a tug on the ends of our fishing lines. A quick plan fell into place.
His fishing credo holds true despite some historic local weather: Some Ozarks stream will be floatable — Barry Marquart
The meteorologists were all calling for severe thunderstorms, heavy rains and even tornadoes but I had a feeling we would be okay! “I know they're calling for rain, but trust me Mike, there will be some stream in the Ozarks that will be floatable and I’ll find out which one,” I told my buddy.
'Better Canoes Were Never Built'
— Jo Schaper
The wood and canvas canoes are slim and sleek, with a gracefully curved prow and uniquely narrow deck, whose inwales (thin wood strips) tapered to the point of the canoe, making the vessels thinner at the tips, and structurally stronger than other wood and canvas canoes. The deck was shaped like a wooden arrowhead. Called Arrowhead canoes, they were built by the St. Louis Meramec Canoe Co., and later, the St. Louis Boat Canoe Co., Valley Park, by Alfred Wickett. Around 1900, Wickett, a Canadian canoe builder, helped George and Herbert Gray establish and grow Old Town Canoe Co. How he came to build canoes in Valley Park from 1922 to his death in 1943, is a mystery that John and Dorothy Strasser and Wally and Marty Hauck of St. Louis pursue in their spare time.
 Paddlers, powerboats can get along — Jo Schaper
Traveler talked to the Missouri Water Patrol, the St. Louis Canoe and Kayak Club, a canoe outfitter and two jet and bass boat dealers to find out some share-the-river tips for the padders and powerboaters. All agree, mutual respect is the key.
Makin' Tracks: A risk worth taking — Emery Styron
Putting out our annual Float Trip Edition after all the flooding in southeast Missouri feels like a risk, but what the heck? Memorial Day is the traditional kick off to the outdoor recreation season. This is the right time to do it, and so we did. Read this column online
Traveler editorial: Elk bring opportunities — Emery Styron
Traveler opines that the Missouri Department of Conservation's move to re-establish elk in the state brings with it both risks and certain problems, which are more than balanced by opportunities. Read our editorial online
Editor's Mailbag:
Gary Hart writes on an unwelcoming experience in Pulaski County, Al Agnew differs with Bill Cooper on smallmouth regulations and John Buhr wonders whether that suprise bass Howard Helgenberg wrote about last month was caught during the legal season.
Spring turkey harvest off 9.3% — 3,9276 birds — MDC news release
Resource Scientist Jason Isabelle, the Conservation Department’s turkey specialist, reported that hunters checked 38,328 turkeys during the regular spring turkey season April 18 through May 8. That is down 3,926 or 9.3% from last year.
 Missouri River 340: Please don’t call it a float trip — Steve Kaub
The author can’t think of a better way to spend part of a hot summer week than paddling 340 miles from KC to St. Charles as quickly as possible. See if you agree.
Nature's Corner: Watch for this magnificent, ugly prehistoric treasure
on rivers — Aaron Horrell
The alligator snapper is designed to blend in with the colors of the mud, gravel, rocks and debris of its underwater world. Native to North America's lakes, swamps, streams and rivers, it can be found in parts of 14 U.S. states throughout the mid and lower Mississippi River Valley.
Bob Parr builds 'one righteous boat' — Bill Janis
Bob Parr's hand-crafted wooden canoes stand out in a world of plastic, fiberglass and aluminum vessels. Find out how the south St. Louis County resident builds boats that take abuse and win shows and races.
Big Piney Father's Day...on Wednesday — Bob Todd
One recent year, we “did” Father’s Day in the middle of the next week. Specifically, Kim and I met at Lay Z Day Campgound on Big Piney River. Glen Clark shuttled us upriver the distance for a day’s float. With both Kim and Bo, when they “take the old man fishing,” the old man starts out in the back of the canoe. So it was on this trip.
Old Tyme Festival music slated
Williamsville's 11th annual Old Tyme Country Festival is coming up June 4 at Markham Springs Recreation Area on the Black River. Live music goes all day. Here's the lineup.
Read this story online
 It gets better — Emery Styron
Water levels and weather conditions change fast on Missouri lakes and rivers. These photos from late April show how some rivers looked then. With any luck, the rivers will be in much better shape by the time you read this
Traveler offers extensive links to online river gages on our website. Check these when planning your outings.
Maps in Traveler feature ads from many outfitters, marinas and other water-centric businesses. Read the ads for email addresses and phone numbers you can use to check local conditions.
No bad weekends at Bennett Spring
— Howard Helgenberg
There’s no such thing as a bad weekend at Bennett Spring. Normally a trip to Bennett for me would mean getting a campsite and pitching a tent, but on a recent weekend, my wife came along and we decided to live it up and stay in one of the park cabins.
The Seasons: Squirrels, coyotes, frogs, turtles in season — but no lizards — Bob Todd
There is no open season on lizards in Missouri. The ones that live here don’t get big enough for eating, or for making leather. So just because lizards are pretty active this time of year doesn’t mean you can draw down on one. Many animals that live in the state may be hunted, however. And in June the regulations for this year’s deer season will be published and available where licenses are sold. The firearms season opens Nov. 12.
The Iron Kettle: Easy-to-make float trip, camp recipes for when water drops — Pat Todd
Sausage & rice and bread from Genna Brown of Wappapello, spoon tacos and skillet pizza from the Girl Scouts Camp Book, plus walking  salad, dump cake, Ziploc omelet and that float trip must-have, gorp.
Marquand, on Castor, took railroader's name, struggled to get bridge — Kathleen Brotherton
I never heard of the sleepy little town of Marquand growing up but became acquainted with its small town beauty after I got married. Situated along the banks of the Castor River, surrounded by the St. Francois Mountains and Mark Twain National Forest, Marquand is surrounded by natural beauty.
Fly fishing with a cane pole — Jim and Donna Featherston
Teaching an old man new tricks gets complicated in this Old Buck and Hootie story
Privileges pulled for 21 Wildlife Code violators, 305 child support non-compliers
At its meeting on April 14-15, the Missouri Conservation Commission suspended hunting, fishing, trapping and/or commercial privileges of 15 Missouri residents for Wildlife Code violations and affirmed actions taken by Missouri courts suspending privileges of six Missouri residents. Read this story online
 Rout of Rebels in Salem skirmish got national attention — Rick Mansfield
Though it is not as well-remembered today as its contemporary competitor, Harper’s Weekly, Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper was one of the nation’s most widely-circulated periodicals in the 1860s. And it was to that extensive audience that a two-page lithographic print of the Dent County skirmish was published in the Dec. 28, 1861 edition.
Macon County cougar confirmed — MDC news release
The Missouri Department of Conservation has confirmed the presence of a mountain lion in northern Macon County, based on photos of tracks taken by a landowner. Read this story online
Click this Back Issues link to see summaries of Traveler by month, from November 2003 to present. Print copies of back issues are available for up to one year after publication for $5 per copy. Call 800-874-8423, ext. 2 to order.
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